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Delia Leddy May 16th 1868 to August 29 1940 Drumsilagh, Butlersbridge Cavan

Hi I am reaching out to hopefully find more information about my great grandmother Delia Leddy. From U.S. Census she was born in Ireland in 1868 and mirgrated with her family shortly thereafter.  Her death certificate shows that her parents were Hugh and Sarah Leddy, and from a distant DNA match I believe she was from Drumsilagh, Butlersbridge in County Cavan. I estimate that her parents were born somewhere in the 1830's but that is just a guess, and I have no clue if she had any siblings. Additionally, while it appears that her name is fairly unique, there was another Delia G. Leddy that lived in New York, however I have confirmed taht was not her.  If anyone has any information about her parents or relatives I would greatly appreciate hearing anything.   Thank you all!

 

Jay Boyce

James T.

9 replies

James,
You can search for Delia's birth record for free at irishgenealogy.ie. "Delia" is a nickname for Brigid/Bridget.
Have you traced Delia in the various census records? For instance, was she living with her parents in the 1870/1880 U.S. censuses? This would confirm their names (death certificates are not so reliable when it comes to parents' names).
I hope this is helpful.
Pat

glanvil3@aol.com

Hi James,

Both the 1930 and 1940 U.S. censuses (PA) note that Delia was born in Northern Ireland; the 1930 notes that her parents were born in Northern Ireland.

glanvil3@aol.com

Jay:

Civil registration of births started in 1864 and I searched on the free site www.irishgenealogy.ie from 1864-1870 for all Delia/Bridget Leddy birth records in Ireland and none had a father Hugh and mother Sara.  Note Delia is variant of Bridget and you will usually see Bridget in civil records and church records.

I also searched the subscription site Roots Ireland for all of Ireland and did not see any Delia/Bridget Leddy baptismal records with a father Hugh.

I went on Ancestry and saw that William Blair and Delia Leddy were married in 1886 and on the 1910 census Delia indicated that her immigration year was 1879.

My conclusion is that Delia/Bridget Leddy was actually born somewhere around 1860-1862 and that she made herself younger when she came to America or shortly after.

Drumsillagh Butlersbridge Co. Cavan is  in the civil parish of Castleterra. The RC parish would be Castletara/Castleterra. Unfortunately there is a hugh gap in baptismal records for that parish from 1809 until April 1862  https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0822 ; which would explain not finding a baptismal record for Delia/Bridget Leddy.

I also looked at the 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Co. Cavan and the only Hugh Leddy was in  Inishbeg townland in Castleterra civil parish and I think that is where your Leddys were from.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you both Patricia and Roger for your help.  To be honest most of the census records from the U.S. have had Delia or Alice, which I am thinking the latter is because they didn't understand her or her husband well.  My Mother and other relatives have brought Bridget/Brigid as being her name, however with what I had already found in census along with the possibility of that name being slang for "Irish Bridget" which was used as a moniker for servents in the U.S. back then, I wasn't sure what was true.  I also have noticed that there were disparate ages for Delia/Bridget in many of the census here, but that isn't unusual and just another item to drive me slowly crazy.  I appreciate both of your support on this and the information you have provided.  I think I am going to try to search under Bridget for the U.S. because I believe she may have met William E. in either NY or Philadelphia during his migration from  Nova Scotia, Canada somewhere in the late 1870's.  I will keep you up to date on my investigation and add a note to my Ancestry for my cousins.  Roger my Ancestry Tree is private (Boyce Family Tree), however if you would like access just let me know your e-mail or account name and I will add you.

James T.

I forgot to ask in my previous response.  Is there a possibility that Hugh could be a nickname for her Father?

James T.

James:

Hugh would have been his baptismal name. No need to give me access to your private tree. Let us know if you have additional questions and we will try to assist.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Jay:

I reported the spam comment to our tech team.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,

My apologies I didn't see any spam comment.  I assume it's already been cared for by the tech team so thank you.

 

J.

James T.

Jay:

Right, they removed the spam. We get about one spam comment a day. Annoying.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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